In early 2013, Fu Ping published her autobiography Bend, Not Break, coauthored with Meimei Fox. The book, along with her media interviews, has been found to contain many exaggerations, distortions, and fabrications. Fu Ping has responded by claiming to be a victim of a "smear campaign" of ulterior motives.

This blog documents the facts, questions, and falsehoods behind her book and words.

I was by myself. The Red Guard took me from the train station in a jeep and drove in Nanjing.

The Debunking:
For this dramatic event, Fu Ping had three different versions of what she was driven in from the Nanjing train station to the city: a car, a motorcycle, and a jeep. These are fairly different vehicles, especially the motorcycle. Even that she was only 8 years old, it's unlikely she would not remember whether it was a car or a motorcycle.

Even if she didn't remember, why would she just make things up on the fly? Isn't that a typical behavior of a habitual liar?

Beyond the obvious inconsistency, there is still a more serious issue. Where did these Red Guards get the vehicles and how did they learn to drive? Remember this was China in 1966. Van, car, jeep, or motorcycle were not household items. Only trained professionals had the access and skills for them. Yet a couple of groups of teenagers who could command them at will. Sounds real?